Australian news, and some related international items

Students lead anti-Adani protests, vow to remove Liberal Party from power

Stop Adani protesters gather in cities, take aim at Scott Morrison’s activism comments, ABC News, 9 Dec 18 By Kevin Nguyen Student activists who felt the Prime Minister was condescending last week over climate issues have vowed to remove the Liberal Party from power — and keep it out — as long as it maintains its current policies.

Key points:

A national survey showed a majority of respondents supported student protests on climate change

Rallies took place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns

Junior activists said the Prime Minister’s comments compelled them to march

Thousands of protesters gathered in capital cities on the east coast on Saturday in a coordinated march against Indian energy giant Adani’s Carmichael mine and rail project.

While the attendees at the rally were diverse, it was school-aged students who were leading the crowds.

“It’s awful to see our leader feels like we shouldn’t have opinions and we shouldn’t care and they shouldn’t listen to us,” 14-year-old Jean Hinchliffe said in response to Mr Morrison’s calls last week for “less activism in schools”.

“It’s just atrocious. As students we are very informed and very educated and that’s why we’re taking action.

“We’re fighting for our own futures.”………

PM’s comments galvanised students

Like Jean, many young students who appeared at the rallies on Saturday were part of the thousands of Australian students who defied Scott Morrison’s call to stay in school.

While school-aged students will not be eligible to vote in next year’s federal and state elections, they are becoming the face of the Stop Adani and climate strike movements determined to make it a persistent election issue.

Daisy Jeffrey, 16, from Conservatorium High School in Sydney, said she was interested in a future in politics and Mr Morrison’s comments had galvanised her, and dozens of her peers, to take to the streets.

“It wasn’t disheartening, it made us more angry and more determined to go out on the streets,” Daisy said.

In addition to Sydney, rallies were held in Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns.